Washington has urged Nigeria to tackle violence against Christians in the Middle Belt after gunmen attacked Naridon village, killing women and children

The United States Government on Saturday condemned the deadly Kaduna attack that killed at least 30 people, including eight children, in Naridon village, Kamaru Ward, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, urging the Nigerian Government to confront what it described as rampant violence against Christians in the Middle Belt.

Also read: Southern Kaduna attack claims at least 30 lives, including women and children

The condemnation from the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs came days after armed men stormed the community shortly before midnight on Sunday, July 26, shooting residents and setting houses and shops ablaze in an assault that left families shattered and four other people critically injured.

In a post on its official X account, the bureau described the incident as a tragedy and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

“The United States condemns the early morning July 27 attack on a village in Nigeria’s Kaduna State that reportedly killed at least 30 people, including children. We express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased,” the bureau said.

“We will continue to urge the Government of Nigeria to address rampant violence against Christians in the Middle Belt.”

The US statement referred to the assault as an early morning attack on July 27, while local accounts placed the beginning of the violence at about 11pm on Sunday, July 26, with the attackers reportedly remaining in the area for several hours.

Dogon Rana, secretary to the village head of Naridon, said 30 people had been confirmed dead, including eight children, while four others were in critical condition.

The account of the attack has added a deeply painful human dimension to the violence. Rana said one family lost five children in a single night, leaving only one survivor, who was reportedly fighting for his life.

Another resident, who spoke anonymously, alleged that 22 members of the Rana family alone were killed.

The resident also claimed that the attack lasted for about three hours and that security personnel stationed less than two kilometres from the community did not intervene during the assault.

Those claims have not been independently verified, while no armed group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. Reuters reported that security personnel arrived in the community hours after the violence, while the Kaduna State Police Command said it would provide further details.

The attack has nevertheless renewed concern over the vulnerability of communities in Southern Kaduna, an area that has experienced recurring violence and communal tensions.

Naridon is also described as a border community between Kaduna State and Ganawuri in Plateau State, placing it within a wider region that has faced persistent security challenges.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani condemned the killings and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The governor’s administration also ordered the state emergency management agency to provide relief materials to families affected by the attack, as residents began dealing with the loss of loved ones and the destruction of homes and businesses.

The Kaduna State Government said it had received the reports with deep sorrow and directed security agencies to “intensify operations to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice”.

The violence has also triggered a strong political response.

Usman Bawa, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kaduna State, described the killings as an act of barbarity, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said the bloodshed reflected a failure by the Federal Government to adequately protect citizens.

Atiku called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, arguing that the repeated attacks on vulnerable communities demonstrated the need for a more effective approach to protecting lives and property.

The US intervention adds an international dimension to the growing debate over insecurity in Nigeria.

Washington’s reference to violence against Christians in the Middle Belt comes amid wider concerns about the country’s complex security crisis, which includes banditry and armed attacks in the northwest and north-central regions, as well as the long-running Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgencies in the northeast.

However, the circumstances surrounding the Naridon attack remain under investigation, and authorities have yet to establish the identity or motive of the attackers.

For families in the community, the immediate reality is more personal.

The loss of children, the destruction of homes and the fear left behind have transformed another night of violence into a painful reminder of the insecurity facing rural communities across parts of northern Nigeria.

Also read: VDM accuses government of forgetting Kaduna kidnap victims

As security agencies pursue the perpetrators, the Kaduna attack is likely to intensify calls for stronger protection of vulnerable communities and a more decisive response to the violence that continues to claim civilian lives.